Our Unchanging Responsibility as Shepherds

Our Unchanging Responsibility as Shepherds 

Reflections by Rev. Harry Stackhouse

Shepherds called by God to attend His flock must start by loving the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and minds as recorded in Matthew 22:37. Let nothing come between you and God.

Jesus questioned Peter 3 times in John 21…” Do you love me “THEN “tend my lambs… shepherd my sheep…tend my sheep. ” Notice that loving Jesus preceded the work that the shepherd was called to do.

Paul the Apostle told young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:14,15,16,22-26 what he must do to fulfill his responsibility of being a faithful shepherd.

First start by loving the Lord with all of yourself. Give God all of you so that He refill you with more of Himself to an overflowing capacity that His flock may drink of Him.

Present yourself approved to God as workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. Avoid being trendy “PC”  in teaching the infallible word of God. Make it plain so that the ears of all the hearers can be enlightened like in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. Your prayers should be “Lord give them ears that they might hear what the Spirit is speaking to the church”

Teach the sheep you shepherd not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.  Proverbs 10:19 “Where there are many words transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Avoid worldly chatter the leads to future ungodliness. There are conversations of the world that you must avoid: sexual conversations, political conversations, blame.

Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations knowing that they produce quarrels.

Never argue with your sheep.  Speak your opinion, scripture, truth, listen. Pray and close the time of discussing.